Advocate

Burke County Economic Snapshot 2010 & 2011

(Data Source: NC Justice Center)

UNEMPLOYMENT:

In November 2011, the county unemployment rate was 11.7% compared to the state rate of 9.5%.
From November 2007 to November 2011, the number of employed persons in Burke County declined by 4,623.

POVERTY:

18.7% of Burke County residents (16,377 people) lived in poverty in 2010; the state rate was 17.5%.
43.1% of Burke County residents were low-income from 2008 to 2010, meaning their incomes were less than twice the federal poverty level ($44,628 for a family of four in 2010).

HOUSING:

53% of all renters were unable to afford the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom housing unit in 2010.
There were 379 foreclosure filings in 2011 representing 1 in 108 properties in Burke County.

HEALTH:

On average, from 2008 to 2010, 16% of Burke County residents did not have health insurance.
15,579 people were eligible for Medicaid in Burke County in December 2011, a 20.2% increase since December 2007.

EDUCATION:

The 4-year cohort graduation rate for Burke County in 2010-2011 was 85%, compared to the state rate of 77.9%.

SUPPORTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES:

In September 2011, the number of Burke County residents who received assistance from the food and nutrition or food stamp program increased from 2007 by 83.5% to 16,193 people and the share of residents receiving assistance reached 17.7%.
In 2011 residents in Burke County received state Earned Income Tax Credit refunds totaling $446,833, which supported local businesses and helped workers earning low wages make ends meet.

Burke County United Way Advocacy Areas:

United Way of North Carolina Advocacy Areas: